Chinese President Xi Jinping to deliver a keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum on November 4; The CIIE opens on November 5; U.S. voters elect next president on November 3; The APEC holds virtual third senior officials' meeting (SOM3) and related meetings November 2-11.

3rd CIIE is ready to open

The first dedicated import exhibition in the world, the third CIIE is scheduled from November 5-10 this year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the third CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, which open in Shanghai on November 4.

The third CIIE has an area of 360,000 square meters, 60,000 square meters larger than the second CIIE last year, for enterprises.

This year's CIIE will have the same number of Fortune 500 companies and leading companies attending as in the previous two sessions.

In light of the pandemic and industry development trends, four special subsections will be set up during the event: public health and anti-epidemic products and services, smart transportation, energy conservation and sporting goods.

Shanghai customs has been serving this year's CIIE exhibitors amid regular epidemic containment measures, setting up 43 special passages and 79 special counters at major ports in the city.

Due to the pandemic, some signing ceremonies and roadshows have been moved online to facilitate participation.

Trump vs. Biden: Who is going to win?

Americans will head to the polling sations nationwide on November 3 to decide whether to allow incumbent President Donald Trump to sit in the White House for four more years or let Joe Biden take over.

However, Americans may need days or weeks to know who eventually wins this year's election.

Read more:

Interactive page: X Factors in the U.S. Election

A tangle of rules: Why the U.S. election confuses so many

Graphics: Biden leads Trump in battlegrounds, national polls stable

To avoid catching COVID-19 at crowded polling stations on the election day, over 82 million Americans, more than 59 percent of the total turnout in 2016, have already cast their ballots.

A record number of mail-in ballots created complications for state authorities to complete the counts on the election night this year, while some states even accept ballots that arrive well after election day as long as the postmark on the envelope is before November 3.

The national polls showed that Biden still led Trump by around eight points, but given the results are determined state by state, the polls are only indicative.

Trump is not the only U.S. politician seeking re-election on November 3. The entire House of Representative and one-third of the U.S. Senate will also be elected.

The lead showed in the polls reinforces the expectation that the Democrats will retain control of the House of Representatives, but the battle for an all-important majority in the Senate remains tight.

The Democrats need a net gain of four from the 35 Senate seats contested in 2020 to guarantee a majority, and around 12 of the 23 seats the Republicans are defending are competitive races.

Day by day:

Monday: The APEC holds virtual third senior officials' meeting (SOM3) and related meetings (till November 11).

Tuesday: The U.S. holds presidential election, Senate election and House of Representatives election; Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam travels to Beijing for a three-day visit (till November 5); newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, and Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades meet for the first time at the UN Chief of Mission's residence; Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney speaks at Brexit event; Puerto Rico holds House of Representatives election, Senate election and governor election; Palau holds Senate and House of Delegates election.

Wednesday: Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum; EU meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers takes place

Thursday: Saint Vincentian House of Assembly elections are held; The CIIE continues

Friday: The CIIE continues

Saturday: Ghana holds presidential and parliamentary elections

Sunday: Myanmar's House of Nationalities and House of Representatives elections